Schneider-Invensys Takeover Would Create Energy Giant

Schneider Electric made waves on Friday with news it is planning to offer £3.3 billion ($5 billion), or £5.05 a share, to take over Invensys. The target company says it’s likely to accept an offer at that value, Bloomberg reports.

Schneider says the acquisition would increase its focus on the industry automation sector, significantly growing its access to electricity-intensive segments where the company already offers energy management products. The purchase would also give Schneider a leading position in the operational efficiency software market, the company says.

As a friend of mine in industrial efficiency tech said, it’s a bit like Microsoft bidding to take over Apple. Invensys and Schneider are both energy management leaders with a global presence, extensive domain expertise and established infrastructure, according to a recent Verdantix report. But unlike Microsoft and Apple, these efficiency companies feel outsiders breathing down their necks, in the form of big IT companies like SAP and IBM. Consolidation may therefore look all the more attractive.

Tamar Wilner is Senior Editor at Environmental Leader PRO.